09/16/2026
For decades, operators have relied on vigilance, wildlife management and pilot reports to reduce the risk of aircraft bird strikes. Now, experts say artificial intelligence could add a new layer of operational awareness for business aviation airports and flight operations.
Bird strikes are among the most unpredictable hazards, particularly at the diverse mix of U.S. airports that serve helicopters, turboprops and business aircraft.
In fact, a newly released NBAA safety data analysis showed that bird strikes accounted for 18% of 66 reported incidents and accidents from April to June of this year – the most common event type reported in the study, overall.
While wildlife management programs have evolved over decades, advances in artificial intelligence are opening new possibilities for detecting and predicting bird activity before it affects flight operations.
